Wyoming cruised past Godwin Heights in the first ‘Battle of Wyoming’ girls basketball tourney opener on Wednesday.(WKTV)
By Zach Fanko
WKTV Contributor
Wyoming used its size and physicality to overpower Godwin Heights in the opening game of the first ‘Battle of Wyoming’ girls basketball tournament on Wednesday night at Potter’s House High School.
The Wolves secured a 65-45 victory as forward LaAnna Griffin recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Aaliyah Ratliff added 12 points.
Wyoming sophomore Shakya Anderson goes in for a basket. (WKTV)
The frontcourt duo of Griffin and Shakya Anderson were able to establish their presence in the post and provided key baskets according to Wyoming coach Jesse Vasquez.
“Everytime Godwin would make a run we threw the ball into them and they made some good shots,” Vasquez said. “Which allowed us to get into our defensive sets after a make.
“I thought our defensive pressure causing problems and the way we rebounded really turned the game for us.”
Godwin tries to defend against Wyoming’s fast moving LaAnna Griffin (15). (WKTV)
The importance of this win could not be understated for the Wolves (4-3), who have already matched last year’s win total and have the look of a much improved team.
“To come out against Godwin, a school right down the road from us. A lot of the girls know each other.
“And to win a basketball game because of our effort and energy it’s huge for us.”
Battle of Wyoming championship Thursday
Wyoming faces host Potter’s House in the ‘Battle of Wyoming’ championship on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Pumas beat Kelloggsville in the other semifinal game, 58-31.
Godwin Heights High School’s girls basketball team in action against Wyoming Tri-unity Christian on Jan. 7. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
The Godwin Heights High School girls basketball team (5-1) closed out their early non-conference season schedule Tuesday, Jan. 6, with a convincing, if at times sloppy, 58-38 non-conference home win over Wyoming Tri-unity Christian.
And while the Wolverines’ schedule will get more challenging now as it enters OK-Conference Silver play Friday, Jan. 10, at Hopkins (3-3 in early season action), head coach Cassie Medina likes what she has seen from her team of nine juniors and one super freshman.
And she really likes what she thinks the team could become this season and next.
“I’m excited, because I had half of them (the juniors) on varsity last year, so we are still building,” Medina said to WKTV after the Tuesday game. “I feel like this year is the year and next year is the year.”
Medina is now 82-59 overall at Godwin, but is 77-44 without a losing season after going 5-15 in 2012-13, her first year leading the varsity.
Godwin Heights High School’s girls basketball team before a game Jan. 7. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
In the Tri-unity game, the Wolverines had seven players in the scoring column, led by center Jakaya Lay’s 15 points and freshman guard KaShari Babb’s 12 points. Guard Lashay Lee added nine points and forward Anika Clark eight.
Other juniors on the team include guards Lanaja Polk-Craig, Diamond Johnson and Hannah Barns, forward Shantil Johnson and center Jaida Walls.
Godwin Heights High School’s girls basketball team head coach Cassir Medina talks during a timeout in a Jan. 7 game. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
And while coach Medina feels she can and will get scoring — and tight defense — from just about anybody she puts on the court, Lay has been very impressive on both offense and defense in the paint, and Babb was is just beginning to show why she was too good to not play point guard/off guard on varsity.
Godwin Heights High School’s girls basketball team had nine juniors and one freshman, guard KaShari Babb, right. (WKTV)
Babb’s “basketball smarts is just too good, there is just no way she should be JV,” Medina said. “If you watch her, her basketball IQ, she sees layups inside, she sees open players. She is just too good.”
And Lay is not only developing into a scoring machine, but she rebounds and plays tough inside defense without drawing carless fouls — she did not have a single foul against Tri-unity.
“Her footwork is so good inside. For her size, she’s a little shorter (5-foot-9), her footwork is so nice,” Medina said. “The way she can get the ball and move … I’m amazed at the inside moves she has.”
But Medina knows that her team will need to get better, this season and next, starting with the conference opener this week.
“Tonight (against Tri-unity) was a little sloppy, we need to clean-up a lot of the turnovers,” she said. “But righty now we are doing a lot of things right.”
The Wolverines were 11-11 last season and were 4-6 in OK-Conference Silver play. They won two games in the state playoffs, including a 56-40 win over conference foe Kelloggsville, before falling to Grand Rapids South Christian in the Division 2 District 44 finals.
The Godwin Heights vs. Tri-unity game was a WKTV Sports Featured Game and is available on cable television and on-demand at WKTVlive.org.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
